Tring young guns run riot in County Plate final

The Tring Athletic Academy ended their season on a high as they thrashed Old Albanians B 67-3 in the Herts County Plate final.

For six of the U18s, the game represented a culmination of 12 years of rugby at Tring, and this would be time last time they would wear the academy shirt.

After a delayed kick-off, the match finally got under way with OAs receiving the kick and knocking it on immediately.

Tring won the resulting scrum before executing a series of strong carries which ended up with a penalty near the OAs 22; Ben Hogan slotted the ball between the posts to give Tring an early 3-0 lead.

Shortly afterwards, OAs were faced with a similar penalty scenario directly in front of the posts but questionably opted to kick for touch.

Tring regained possession with two superb runs from Harry Hunter and Danny Ritchie, before another Tring penalty from Hogan saw his side produce a fantastic driving maul from a well won line-out. The move was finished off when Robbie Cogger secured Tring’s first try of the day to make it 8-0.

OAs responded with a penalty to reduce the deficit to 8-3, but Tring hit back almost immediately.

George Wardle made a great carry up the pitch, before the pacy Alfie Rolfe helped to earn a penalty which led to another Tring try by Danny Ritchie for 15-3.

A temporary injury for Harry Hunter saw him replaced by the fresh legs of Dom Fidler.

In the five minutes which followed another two cracking Tring tries were engineered by Alex Darby and Ritchie to open up a 27-3 half-time lead.

The second half demonstrated the strength of character of the whole Tring squad who gave it 100 per cent until the final whistle.

The highlight came from an exceptionally executed cross-field kick from Hogan which was effortlessly received at pace by Phil Coleman who then popped it inside to Rolfe who touched down for the try of the season.

From the on, it was all Tring as they continued to demonstrate their attacking flair and left the pitch as Herts U18 County Plate winners.